Nina Van Eekert (social worker & doctor in sociology and health sciences) obtained her PhD in November 2020, having written her thesis on the medicalization of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) in Egypt and Kenya. As a post-doctoral researcher she continues her research on FGM/C, and expands her expertise to the broader field of sexual and reproductive health & rights and gender studies. Moreover, she coordinates a qualitative research project on student wellbeing in higher education during the Covid-19 pandemic. She strongly values the nexus between academic research and the field.